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Underlying Bob's approach to IT, was always how to get the best return on investment. He would say that, "It's about standard blocking and tackling. It's about planning, executing, measuring, and adjusting. It's about making sure you have attention to detail along with the relentless implementation of core disciplines." |
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Following a valiant battle with cancer, Bob Napier passed away yesterday in Houston, surrounded by his family. Bob was a great leader and a great friend and colleague to all of us. His impact is broad, deep and lasting in our organization. Bob's wife, Cheryl, asked us to convey that he loved both Compaq and HP, and believed deeply in what we are doing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cheryl, his daughter, Kelly, and his sons, Kevin and Brian.
I have had the privilege of knowing Bob for many years, both at Lucent Technologies and HP. Bob was one of those rare individuals who could both challenge and support, who was both tough and compassionate. He made us perform, he made us think, he made us laugh. I will miss him greatly, as I know we all will.
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"Bob never backed down from what he thought was the right thing to do. He was tenacious. If you had Bob's support on something, he was with you all the way. He fought for his teams, but likewise, he pushed us to execute flawlessly and perform to a higher standard. That's why he was so admired and respected by those who worked for him and with him."
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"Bob often commented on how his military experiences enabled him to be a more effective CIO. One example where he used his military talents was when we were working to defend the corporate infrastructure from code-red and Nimda virus attacks. Bob was in his 'full regalia' working the data center operations like a command post in the middle of a battle zone." |
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Colleagues and employees remember |
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"My fondest memory of Bob was his good nature at the Worldwide Information Management Conference in 2000. I'll never forget the opening scene of the conference. Bob was dressed in a biker's leather jacket, riding a Harley down the center aisle. He sure looked like he was having fun! That "Biker Bob" image left an indelible mark."
"I first met Bob shortly after the HP/Compaq merger was announced. He had a huge passion for the merger and was instrumental in driving our success. As a new member of his team he truly gave me his unwavering support. His vision and leadership will never be forgotten."
"Bob was a down to earth and very approachable person. He was a good soundboard and would avail himself to assist us in meeting our objectives. He also had a great sense of humor which he used frequently to communicate the challenges facing our company."
"Here in Europe, even though we were geographically far from him, his leadership and governance were so big, the manager was so great, the guy was so good, that in fact he was very close to us. He will be missed."
"I was so sorry to hear about Bob's illness and passing. I had really enjoyed working with him, especially when he told stories about his submarine career. I remember one time he said something particularly impish and I replied that he must have spent a lot of time in the principal's office when he was growing up. 'No,' he said, 'Attending Catholic schools, I spent a lot of time on my knees muttering to statues.' He was a great guy, an honest man, a fabulous negotiator, and always Bob. I'll miss him."
"From all of Asia Pacific, we'd like to say that Bob was a practical and down to earth leader with an easy going personality. We still remember him riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle onto the stage during our Worldwide IT conference a few years ago! We also appreciated Bob's humor. He liked to use cartoons in his presentations to communicate key messages effectively."
"Offering my sincere sympathy on the loss of Bob Napier. He was a vibrant and strong person and I am deeply sorry at your loss."
"He had tremendous insight to the business, and the customers certainly appreciated his frankness and willingness to assist. Whether it was BP, Exxon or the multiple CIO events he attended, customers valued his opinion greatly. He always put the customer first. We will truly miss him."
"Please convey sympathies from all of us in Australia to Bob's family. I met Bob a few years ago at a Houston gathering of IT Managers, and whilst the business of the day was serious, he made us feel welcome and listened to what we had to say — a great loss. Our thoughts are also with you and those who knew him closely."
"I am so sorry to hear this news. Bob was so good to all of us. I really enjoyed his interaction with the Disney team and myself personally. He made things seem so easy to deal with. It's a very sad day. I really feel like we have lost a member of our family."
"What a gem of a man. Helpful and forthright. My business life is better having known him. Naturally, his daily efforts impacted me directly for years. He made my life better at CPQ/HP."
"It has been our privilege over the past five years to work with one of the great leaders in the IT industry, Bob Napier. His leadership and commitment to excellence have been a guiding force within Compaq and the new HP. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Those of us who had a chance to work with Bob understand what a great man he was and what a tremendous impact he had on the industry and HP - he will be sorely missed by all of us."
"The first time I met Bob we had started building the Houston Data Center. His quick comment to me was; 'Son, make it sailor proof.' Short, humorous and to the point with a tremendous depth…typical Bob. He will be missed, but long remembered as a mentor in my career."
"I will always remember that Bob took time out to personally congratulate and hand out awards when we launched the eCommerce stores for Compaq. He took the time to talk one-on-one with me and asked technical questions! His leadership and support empowered me to launch many web stores in North America and Europe."
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